The Taliban has pledged to expedite the release of Peter and Barbie Reynolds, a British couple detained in Afghanistan under unclear circumstances. Their family urges for swift intervention from the UK government as communication has ceased.
Taliban Promises Efforts for Timely Release of Detained British Couple
Taliban Promises Efforts for Timely Release of Detained British Couple
The Taliban assures the UK that they will prioritize the release of Peter and Barbie Reynolds, British citizens held in Afghanistan since February.
The Taliban has communicated to the BBC that it aims to release two British nationals apprehended in Afghanistan, stating efforts will be made "as soon as possible." The couple, Peter Reynolds, 79, and his wife Barbie, 75, were detained on February 1 while they were returning to their home in the Bamiyan province. Alongside them, an American national and an Afghan individual also faced arrest, according to the Ministry of Interior Affairs spokesperson.
The UK Foreign Office has confirmed it is offering support to the relatives of the Reynolds. Taliban official Abdul Mateen Qani expressed that multiple factors are being considered, and assessments are underway aimed at facilitating their release shortly.
Both Peter and Barbie Reynolds have been actively involved in training projects across Afghanistan for nearly two decades, including initiatives focused on mothers and children. Their programs reportedly received local authority approval, despite the Taliban's 2022 ban on women's employment in non-governmental organizations and restrictions on girls' education past the age of twelve.
Since the Taliban regained power in August 2021, the couple continued to live in Afghanistan. They were married in Kabul in 1970 and had chosen to remain in the country while many Westerners evacuated. Their daughter, Sarah Entwistle, expresses deep concern, stating that she hadn’t heard from her parents in over two weeks. Initial communications after their arrest ceased after three days.
Entwistle and her siblings wrote a letter to the Taliban advocating for their parents' release, acknowledging that previous exchanges have yielded benefits for both the Taliban and Western nations. They emphasized their parents' unwavering commitment to Afghanistan, indicating a refusal to engage in ransom negotiations.
On Monday, Entwistle stated that they had allowed time for the Taliban to articulate their reasons for the couple's detention, but had reached a point of urgency. She called upon the British consulate to exert maximum pressure on the Taliban for their release, as the UK has closed its embassy in Kabul post-Taliban takeover, greatly limiting its ability to provide assistance to nationals in Afghanistan. The Foreign Office continues to warn against travel to the region.
